Pacific Northwest ’73-’74: The Complete Recordings Boxed Set

Forums

Pacific Northwest ’73-’74: The Complete Recordings Boxed Set

WHAT'S INSIDE:
6 Complete Shows On 19 Discs
• 6/22/73 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C.
• 6/24/73 Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR
• 6/26/73 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, WA
• 5/17/74 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C.
• 5/19/74 Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR
• 5/21/74 Hec Edmundson Pavilion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Mastered in HDCD from the original master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering
Masters transferred and restored by Plangent Processes
Original Art by First Nations Artist Roy Henry Vickers
Photos by Richie Pechner
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 15,000

Includes an immediate digital download of "Eyes Of The World (P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada 5/17/74)"

"We were in the Pacific Northwest...between somewhere in Washington and some other where in Oregon. The road took us to the lip on a ridge, from where we could see around us for many miles in all directions … It was breathtaking to behold, but as we watched, we had a firm realization that we were witnessing something even more beautiful than our eyes could ever take in … Life causes life. Heaven and Earth dance in this way endlessly, and their child is the forest. And so there we were, epiphanously watching that grandest and most glorious dance of life—of which we are just a tiny part—awed by a magnificence without beginning, without end..."

Bob Weir, “Sell Headwaters—Everyone Wins,” San Francisco Chronicle

The Pacific Northwest offers up a rich feast of land, sky, and water. It is ripe with influences, abundant with symbols, deep and spirited. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that the Grateful Dead played some of their most inspired shows on these fertile grounds. It does, however, sometimes take a breath for the elements to re-align years later. It seems for us, they finally have and we are able to present not just a glimpse of the band's extraordinary exploratory tour through the region, but a two-tour bounty as the PACIFIC NORTHWEST ’73-’74: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS.

For PACIFIC NORTHWEST ’73-’74: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS, we've paired two short runs made up of six previously unreleased shows - P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C. (6/22/73); Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR (6/24/73); Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, WA (6/26/73); P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada (5/17/74); Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR (5/19/74); and Hec Edmundson Pavilion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (5/21/74). Each show has been mastered in HDCD from the original master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. The transfers from the masters were transferred and restored by Plangent Processes, further ensuring that this is the best, most authentic that these shows have ever sounded.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST ’73-’74: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS comes in an ornate box created by Canada’s preeminent First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers (more on this tremendous artist soon). To complement the music, the set also includes a 64-page book with an in-depth essay by Grateful Dead scholar Nicholas G. Meriwether and photos by Richie Pechner.

Due September 7th, this release is limited to 15,000 individually numbered copies and available exclusively from dead.net. You'll want to grab a copy while you can and sit back, relax, and enjoy all the exclusive content we'll be rolling out over the next few weeks.

Looking for something a little more byte-sized? The collection will also be available for HD digital download in FLAC and ALAC, exclusively at dead.net, on release day. You can pre-order it now too.

Get it while you can.

Charlie3 skip

Weird, that's exactly where I have a skip; Box of Rain Portland 73.

Summer '85 box

06/25/85- Blossom 06/27/85- Saratoga 06/28/85- Hershey 06/30/85- Merriweather 07/01/85- Merriweather - Birthday show. A 12 disc box all music edition would nice.

fourwinds: excellent call for summer 85 box

re NWbox: on disc 2 of 5/19/74. :)))

Summer '85

All great shows.. was at a few and listened to all of these many, many times.. both back in the day on cassette and in modern times, I pulled down what I think is the best version from the archive. We will have to wait and see.. I am enjoying the enthusiasm very much.. they stepped up their game that year for their 20th anniversary and I prefer it for the most part to '83. Be good folks.. Happy Friday. I am finished with my first deep listen to PNE from the box.. on to Portland.

completely content

I've been listening to this box pretty much non stop for the past couple weeks. This is peak dead. And this box is the cherry on top of 25+ years of vault releases. I feel completely content. Whatever comes after this is all gravy. In fact, if nothing came after this I'd be ok too. (that said, how about Gainesville?)

Scuff and Skip

I received my box and it seems that only one disc is defective. That would be Disc # 5 (disc 1 of the Portland ‘73) BIODTL and China > Rider skips all over the place, and there’s a clearly visible scuff on the disc. So I emailed Dr. Rhino and I got a response saying that a replacement disc would be sent to me “as soon as possible”....... this response feels kinda vague. I’m wondering if as soon as possible means I may be in for a lengthy wait......or does it mean that a new disc # 5 will be sent more or less right away? I guess I’ll find out one way or another.

octopi garden parties

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45600372 Octopuses on ecstasy drug 'become more social' "Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who led the study, designed an experiment with three connected water chambers. One of them contained a trapped octopus, and the other a plastic toy. Four other octopuses were placed inside the tank to test their response. Researchers measured how long they spent with the other animal, and how long with the action figure. Then, they were exposed to a liquefied version of MDMA, which they absorbed through their gills, and placed in the chambers again. The study found that all four spent more time in the area with the other octopus than they had before the drugs. "They tended to hug the cage and put their mouth parts on the cage," said Prof Dölen. "This is very similar to how humans react to MDMA; they touch each other frequently," she said."

PNW Box Set Add-on/Overkill?

For anyone interested in additional 1974 shows Amazon has The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack (5 CDs/Compilation) priced at $18.00.

Box of Rain Portland 73 / Skip Question

I ordered 2 of these sets, one for me and a friend and both the Box of Rain on CD 5 have a skip or flub during the first verse. Reading all about this particular error on this disc makes me wonder if this is a cd mastering error or just a small batch of bad discs. Anybody not have this problem on the CD version? is this error present on the HDFlac version as well? Many Thanks!

@ b clark disc 5 skip

Hi! It’s interesting on my Disc 5, Box of Rain plays fine, but BIODTL and China > Rider (the last 3 tracks on the disc), skip all over the place. It’s unlistenable

Made it through the entire box....

....and no skips/issues present.

Next box set

More '69-'70 - their best years by far. Please no '80's - their worst years by far!I stopped going to Dead concerts in the '80's because I couldn't bear how bad they got after seeing them in the '70's. Frankly I wish they had quit after 1977. Then Jerry would have been able to do simpler solo stuff and would not have died so early. 1985? No thanks. 1970 YES PLEASE! More like Dick's Pick's #8, the best Dead concert EVER! Jerry was never better, before or after.

80s

I stopped seeing Dead shows in 84. I just didn't think they were pulling it off anymore (first show was in 76). At the time, they were just another rock show. I was no "Dead Head" though I loved their music. They came around every year so I was lucky enough to see a bunch of shows. Fast forward, now I'm getting on in years. First off, I love listening to mid-80s shows. It's definately a different band. Frankly I'd welcome a box set from any era. Finally got through the (digital flac) NW 73-74 set. This set alone is going to keep this old soul going for a while. I just hope any future box set has a download option. CDs are dead in my dwelling (Except for Dave's because that's the only option). Loads of babble with no direction, I realize.

the 80s

i went off the bus in 83 and got back on after the coma in spring 87.i had been trading tapes and keeping up but they didn't come to Boston anymore. meanwhile the Butthole Surfers where wild when pie eyed and as close to an acid test as i ever got and they played Boston in the mid 80s. here's what i remember about the mid 80s, Gracie & Zarkov and their "academic style" papers on their experiments in chemical expansion. i got a copy of this stuffed in tape trade box and loved it. i got back on the bus to find some of this stuff in Shakedown and do some experiments of my own. thanks to the internet it's now a PDF. no Grateful Dead content, but a nice friday night read. https://erowid.org/library/books_online/notes_from_underground.pdf

'85 box

Don't let your head explode I don't think that would happen and if it did it wouldn't be the annual box it would have to be a side project. I like the sixties and the eighties I don't care if they weren't playing that well. I don't listen to The Dead just for it's good music. https://archive.org/details/gd1985-06-25.142391.sbd.dalton.miller.clugs… https://archive.org/details/gd1985-06-27.sbd.gmb.79382.flac16 https://archive.org/details/gd1985-06-28.sbd.miller.107066.flac16 https://archive.org/details/gd1985-06-30.sbd.miller.89192.sbeok.flac16 https://archive.org/details/gd1985-07-01.139047.sbd.gastwirt.miller.sir…

fourwindsblow - really?

You don't listen for good music? Really? That stopped my mind. Don't know what to say. LOL! When I hear Jerry and/or the Dead playing lousy, it makes me sad.

history of the grateful dead

next Friday on the late night talk show ,coast to coast with George noory they will be talking about the history of the greatest band ever the grateful dead , very cool check it out I will

That ‘85 Box

It’s missing 7-2. Anyway, next Box should contain 6-10-76 6-11-76 6-14-76 6-15-76 6-29-76 and maybe some in between. Still spinning the current Box in the living room. In the car been playing the ‘78 Box in chronological order, started 7-8 on the commute home today. Need more Boxes. I like Kayak Guy’s idea of Plangent Boxes every few months.

Re: bclark

My skipping disk has a visible gauge. I will address customer service after I've gotten through the entire box to insure that is the only defect.------------------------ fyi I am not a robot-----------

more from June '85

http://www.dead.net/show/june-14-1985http://www.dead.net/show/june-15-1… http://www.dead.net/show/june-16-1985 http://www.dead.net/show/june-21-1985 http://www.dead.net/show/june-22-1985

This box set....

....has so many awesome Greatest Stories Ever Told's that I almost can't even handle it.

Totally Same Spot As 80's Fan

At 10:30 this morning 80's Fan gave us an update as to where his head is at right now. Mine too, word for word.

Yup

The Dead never took themselves as series musicians and they were more about transportation than music. Plus it's not about what there playing but more about what there not playing. I find that the sixties and eighties have more color. Come on get happy.

spirit of '76

I'm with you Ice cream kid. That June of '76 box would be just exactly perfect in my book. This box hits my sweet spot but even though I've had this week off work I've only listened to half of it so far. Started with an all time favorite, 5-19 and gave it two deep listens. Followed with the next show in the box, 5-21. Sounds better, much better than i remember from the old tapes. Then on to 6-22-73, two deep listens to one of the all time greats. This music is not to be trifled with--I'm taking my time and giving the music my undivided attention. I've got a date Sunday night with 6-24-73.

Next box set...."Live At The Greek".....

I hope to live long enough to see this dream come true. Have a nice weekend. Mr. Pete----------> aging hippie

I could get into a '76 box

I could get into a '76 box set if the audio quality is good. The 1976 show that they released for 30 Trips Around the Sun didn't sound so hot to me. Flat and muddled. I wasn't too keen on Dave's Picks for either. Throwing some shows with some good song variety and at least three Help / Slip / Franklin's and I'm in. Well, I'm in no matter what. Vguy, I'm with you on the GSETs. Cool clear water well you can't always tell. I put all 5 Greatest Stories in a playlist, this is going to be so cool. I will find the greatest Greatest Story.

1976 Box Set

Has to include 08-04-1976, Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City NJ. This show is killer. Funky grooves throughout. I love this show. A 1969 Box or a 1976 Box! I would enthusiastically take either one.

76 box

way too early to be talking about this, but it gives you time to check out some stuff on LMA to sample whats in the vault. you have time to make your own. from the june 76 come back tour, aka the "4 sneakers in a tumble dryer period", the FMs are probably the nicest and most likely. 2 Mission in the Rain, 2 Help>Slip>Franklins, the return of Comes a Time... 4 shows 12 CDs. 6/12/76 Boston 6/19/76 Passaic 6/24/76 Philly 6/29/76 Chicago want another one 7/18/76 San Francisco. because they are FMs they should have a better mix than the SBDs that all have high vocals and drums and low guitars and bass because of the small venues played. 1976 SBDs from the small venues all suffer from the enhanced drum sound from the PA mix. the guitars are pushed to the background and only during the jams do Jerry and Bob become easier to hear. sorry no links without etree to paste them from :(

WTF

I got my box from UPS on Sept. 13. I picked it up from their depot which is not far from my home. They tried to deliver it the day before but required me to pay the exact amount of tax etc. in cash at my front door without telling me in advance how much it would cost. Fail, naturally. When I picked it up from their depot I could pay electronically using my bank card. The machine was even good enough to spew out a receipt. Today I received an invoice from UPS for exactly the same amount. This came as something of a surprise, naturally. I guess I will have to call them on Monday and try to get an explanation. If they know I have paid, why send me this invoice and if they don't know that I have paid then they are surely beyond redemption. Just finished listening to the fourth show from the box. So far it has played through the few small scuffs, scratches and fingerprints without skips. The clarity of the sound is indeed amazing as others have said. That the mix is a bit weird in places makes it more interesting, but it can be frustrating when someone disappears completely for a while. The music itself is stellar - no complaints there whatsoever. The mixing 'anomalies' at the very beginning of shows is extreme until they get the mix properly adjusted, but the mix to the 2-track recorder was probably not the most important thing to get right. Next box? Ark please!

UPS and the box

I contacted them last Monday about the disparity in tax and shipping charges across the UK, and they told me they would get back to me-but that they were experiencing more than the average amount of enquiries at the moment. On Friday I contacted them again to see if there was any progress, and they repeated about how busy they are, and asked for information I had already given them. I can understand that they must be busy-especially the complaints department! I am on my last show in the box. I have noticed that, due to the mixes, I have been more aware of different musicians than Jerry to a far higher degree than I normally am. Bob and Phil were well up front during the 1973 shows, and Keith seems to shine on every 1974 show. This separation of instruments seems quite jazz like, to me. When I am listening to a jazz album-"Kind of Blue" was the last one-each instrument is clearly audible-much more so than on rock n' roll records. With a kick ass rock album-something like "Kick Out The Jams" by the MC5, the impact is wholesale, and can't be divided up like it can with jazz. In this box, the 1974 mix seems a bit more rock n' roll to me. They also seem much better shows to me than the 1973 ones-but I have only listened to them all once so far. For the next box-the Ark sounds good. I don't think I would bother with anything after 1974 now.

2019 Box Set has gotta be The Ark/Tea Party '69

For a 50th Anniversary. Well overdue. 3 Apr shows with 3 Dec shows would be a just exactly perfect way to show the progression of the band and set lists during that hallowed 'n heavy year. Please Please Please.

Re: WTF

Exact same thing happened to me today. Called UPS and asked about this. Very strange to receive an invoice knowing that I had to pay (‘cash on delivery’) to be handed over the package in the first place. Lady on the phone was helpful, said that their financial department must’ve send an invoice instead of a confirmation of payment. She had heard the same complaint several times lately. I will get called back on Monday. I’m sure that will be the end of this nonsense.

To each their own...

Fourwindsblow....too much acid? LOL!More about that they are not playing? Really? Not serious musicians? Really? Garcia was about the most serious musician on the planet.

Greek Box

Would be awesome. A Cal Expo box would be sweet too.

I am not a robot....

....lol at heads looking forward to the next box. Demand trumps supply. I would like a Vegas Box, but a plethora of guest star sit in's makes me think that will never happen. 1969 or 1976 would be welcome. Winter '79 would as well.

Dude

Those aren't my words they came right from Jerry himself.

I don't think I'm a robot

As anyone with a passing knowledge of Philip K. Dick might know- no one can be 100% sure whether they are a robot or not.

Grateful Dead Movie Winterland 10/74 4CD Box Set

Prolly the best bang for buck retail set still widely avail. Pull the trigger! Steal one! Never enough '74 GoGD in the collection. A stand alone 10-18-74 Dave's Pick with Phil & Ned Set 1.5 would be massive. May need to be a 4CD bonus CD set to get it all. What a show.

robot turing test

A robot does not know they're a robot, therefore if you do not know if you are a robot, you are a robot. QED

5/19/74 Vocals super low...

Hey- I'm not sure if this has already been addressed but I'm just getting to the 5/19/74 show and the vocals for Maybe it Was the Roses and El Paso were so low as to be almost inaudible. Loose Lucy seems to be much better once again. Is this just inherent in the recordings or could I have a bad CD? I can't imagine that the CD would be bad, but the booklet doesn't mention any shortcoming in the recording...a few in vocal recollection, but nothing with the audio. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Vox issues on 5/19/74

Drop outs on the master reel. Warts and all. If you get confused let the music play.

5/19/74

That stretch has been referred to as karaoke Dead. The audience hears the vocals fine, you can hear them roar at the vocal crescendos and climaxes. When it goes into Loose Lucy then Money Money the funk is irresistible. The sound quality on these 74 concerts is crazy good.

The 5.19.74 Portland karaoke Dead....

.... guilty as charged. And I fuckin killed it.

5/19/74 Karaoke Dead

We should film it. A prime contender for this years Mystery Science Theater 3000??

Re:Vguy

I thought it was you but wasn't sure. Great line.

MST3K....

....I recall getting kinda high and laughing my ass off to those. I also recall getting really high and laughing even more. Great show.

Mst3k

There is a reboot on Netflix that is just as good...AND ROBOTS!

Not me...

I'm not a robert.

Dude, you misunderstood Jerry

He was a VERY serious musician and the quality of his music mattered a GREAT DEAL to him.He was super bummed when they played bad. Maybe your attitude explains something I never totally understood: why the Dead became MORE popular as their music became worse and worse. The masses don't have the ear to hear what's good or bad. They just liked the "scene" and the music was unimportant.

Re: MORE popular as their music became worse

Not so sure about that.. I saw a ton of live music during this period.. not just the GD. Seeing a better live act in the 80's than the boys was an elusive task, comparatively they still delivered night after night. If I accept the premise that they had declined (I'd prefer to sidestep that controversy altogether).. Bands that performed better in this era were few and far between. Might I say.. they were still kick ass and if care and attention went into recording shows, I bet opinions would shift too. Their numbers grew gradually, over the years. The term 'on the bus' is exactly correct.. As for the parking lot/zoo scene, I think that's a separate issue than the music.. but I still believe the whole scene was 90%+ about the music. I wouldn't bang on fourwinds for what is clearly word choice and semantics. I think there's a quote from Jerry in Long Strange Trip where he admits he used to sabotage their success. I see this issue as one where there is truth on both sides and reality meets somewhere in the middle. Jerry was a serious musician, Mountain Girl is quick to point out how much he practices and what a professional musician he was, especially in the early years.. up very early every day practicing scales and working out problems. Anyway.. If I had the crystal ball of truth, I bet you two aren't as far apart as it appears and from afar, you both have points..

product sku

081227931391

Product Magento URL

https://store.dead.net/pacific-northwest-73-74-the-complete-recordings-19-cd-boxed-set-1.html

Post reply Log in to post comments

May 8, 2018 - 4:04pm

3,948 replies

clayv

Joined:
March 14, 2018

Pacific Northwest ’73-’74: The Complete Recordings Boxed Set

WHAT'S INSIDE:
6 Complete Shows On 19 Discs
• 6/22/73 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C.
• 6/24/73 Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR
• 6/26/73 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, WA
• 5/17/74 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C.
• 5/19/74 Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR
• 5/21/74 Hec Edmundson Pavilion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Mastered in HDCD from the original master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering
Masters transferred and restored by Plangent Processes
Original Art by First Nations Artist Roy Henry Vickers
Photos by Richie Pechner
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 15,000

Includes an immediate digital download of "Eyes Of The World (P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada 5/17/74)"

"We were in the Pacific Northwest...between somewhere in Washington and some other where in Oregon. The road took us to the lip on a ridge, from where we could see around us for many miles in all directions … It was breathtaking to behold, but as we watched, we had a firm realization that we were witnessing something even more beautiful than our eyes could ever take in … Life causes life. Heaven and Earth dance in this way endlessly, and their child is the forest. And so there we were, epiphanously watching that grandest and most glorious dance of life—of which we are just a tiny part—awed by a magnificence without beginning, without end..."

Bob Weir, “Sell Headwaters—Everyone Wins,” San Francisco Chronicle

The Pacific Northwest offers up a rich feast of land, sky, and water. It is ripe with influences, abundant with symbols, deep and spirited. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that the Grateful Dead played some of their most inspired shows on these fertile grounds. It does, however, sometimes take a breath for the elements to re-align years later. It seems for us, they finally have and we are able to present not just a glimpse of the band's extraordinary exploratory tour through the region, but a two-tour bounty as the PACIFIC NORTHWEST ’73-’74: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS.

For PACIFIC NORTHWEST ’73-’74: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS, we've paired two short runs made up of six previously unreleased shows - P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C. (6/22/73); Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR (6/24/73); Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, WA (6/26/73); P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada (5/17/74); Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR (5/19/74); and Hec Edmundson Pavilion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (5/21/74). Each show has been mastered in HDCD from the original master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. The transfers from the masters were transferred and restored by Plangent Processes, further ensuring that this is the best, most authentic that these shows have ever sounded.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST ’73-’74: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS comes in an ornate box created by Canada’s preeminent First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers (more on this tremendous artist soon). To complement the music, the set also includes a 64-page book with an in-depth essay by Grateful Dead scholar Nicholas G. Meriwether and photos by Richie Pechner.

Due September 7th, this release is limited to 15,000 individually numbered copies and available exclusively from dead.net. You'll want to grab a copy while you can and sit back, relax, and enjoy all the exclusive content we'll be rolling out over the next few weeks.

Looking for something a little more byte-sized? The collection will also be available for HD digital download in FLAC and ALAC, exclusively at dead.net, on release day. You can pre-order it now too.

Get it while you can.

Comments

sort by

Recent

Recent Oldest A to Z Z to A

Reset

July 4, 2021 - 4:10pm

#1

Khronikos

Joined:
July 2, 2021

Is this box now sold out?…

Is this box now sold out? They list it, but it seems like that is just some old data. Great set. I love it, but I don't have it physically. Not a huge deal, but it is very lovely.
December 4, 2020 - 3:48pm

#2

oceansaroundus

Joined:
July 19, 2007

I just received my edition…

I just received my edition of the Northwest Complete Recordings 73 74. Showed up without tracking or any email confirmations . So Glad You Made It. Can't Wait.
October 21, 2020 - 5:05pm

#3

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

Daverock

I have the vinyl too. Grate companions to the CD Box.
October 20, 2020 - 3:38am

#4

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Crow told me-spot on

I keep going back to this box - superb. Especially the 1974 shows. I went so far as to get 5/19/74 and the Playing in the Band from 5/21/74 on vinyl. There are a few problems with vocals on both, but this matters not a jot. The playing, as you say, from all band members, is absorbing. After 1970 they only needed Bill on drums.

I also agree with icecrmcnkd - a box of October 1974 with bells and whistles would make a great release.
October 19, 2020 - 5:25pm

#5

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

Yes, this Box rocks

But it’s now time, Dave, for the Complete Winterland October 74 Box - audio, video, and bonus material.
Bring it on.
October 19, 2020 - 4:19pm

#6

Crow Told Me

Joined:
October 15, 2020

Late to the party, but ...

... just wanted to share how delighted I am with the music in this set, and encourage anyone who’s not taken the plunge to just go ahead and get it already.

There’s been some chatter in another thread about how long it’s taking to sell out this box, and all I can say is that, as much as I love ’73 and ’74, I didn’t order mine till Rhino put it on sale. Maybe some people are settling for the 3-disc version, which is understandable, given the difference in price and given that they did manage to include some very high highlights (including the 45 minute PITB!) in that set.

Also causing some hesitation for me was the packaging. Don’t get me wrong: it’s beautiful! The art work is amazing. But speaking as someone who already has problems finding shelf space for my CDs, I wasn’t sure where I’d put this giant box. (In case anybody upstairs is listening: I thought the June 1976 box really hit the sweet spot between packaging that was elaborate enough to make the box feel special but also small enough to not cause problems.)

Anyway, the music. The MUSIC. For me, this era was flat out the best the band ever sounded, and it’s an incredible joy to hear them in such fine audio. There are a few “surprises,” the kind of vocal drop outs and oddities in the mix that would’ve rated a “caveat” back in the Dick’s days. Mostly, these are very temporary, and in all cases the sound is really really good once everybody settles in. As usual, Jerry’s louder than Bob, but you can hear them both very distinctly, and they constantly (constantly!) are playing their asses off. Phil’s on fire throughout. And BK? He makes a solid case here that the Dead never needed another drummer. Keith comes through nicely, and plays well. I suppose we could say that the vocals were erratic during this period, and I would admit that’s true here. But the singing is mostly good to great, and man oh man, the band sounds fantastic!

I’ve only listened to each show once so far—given the complaints about missing discs and whatnot, I felt like I should make a point of listening all the way through to make sure nothing was amiss—so I’m not really ready to call out a favorite show, or even favorite tunes. But I will say that the PITBs, the Bird Songs, the Eyes, the China-Riders are all, for me, as good as they get. Their playing was so spontaneous, so open, so powerful, so much soul, so imperfectly perfect.

Yes, I suppose there are other, equally worthy eras. But man, ’73 and ’74 were beautiful.
October 19, 2020 - 11:04am

#7

Slow Dog Noodle

Joined:
June 12, 2007

6-22-73

The hour or so of music from He's Gone through the end of Wharf Rat is one of the top 5 hours of music the dead ever played.

There, I said it. This box is worth every penny for that hour of music alone.
October 14, 2020 - 6:45am

#8

gd1294

Joined:
November 11, 2007

Pacific Northwest show disc one song 11 jack straw

Pacific northwest show disc 1 song 11 Jack straw four minutes and 35 seconds there is a skip defect in the disc. Is there any way getting a replacement cd for the box set I bought.
September 26, 2020 - 3:49pm

#9

deadacated

Joined:
September 15, 2020

Testing with Lossless Audio…

Testing with Lossless Audio Checker shows the June 1976 FLAC download in 24/192 format ( https://store.dead.net/music/digital/june-1976-flac-192-24-1.html ) and the Pacific Northwest '73-'74- The Complete Recordings FLAC download in 24/192 ( https://store.dead.net/music/boxed-sets/pacific-northwest-73-74-the-com… ) to be "Upsampled." I have notified Jeffrey Norman and Rhino. I sent Jeffrey the logs of the LAC test results showing 80% of the June 76 files being upsampled. While he was very nice in his response, he had no explanation for the finding. Rhino has not responded to any e-mails. It is important to note that the files on both test “Clean” after downsampling to 24/96, which, likely, means the files, were originally digitized at 24/96 or digitized at 24/192 and downsampled to 24/96 for mastering. Whatever the case Rhino needs to disclose this fact on their web site or change the files for sale to 24/96.
May 20, 2020 - 2:04pm

#10

Morning Sun

Joined:
April 10, 2014

Sale

Check out Rhino for sale through this weekend